Rumors have been swirling that The Hunger Games director Gary Ross was lured away from Catching Fire‘s director’s seat by another kidlit project; a film adaptation of Peter & the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.
MTV reported that Ross (pictured with actress Jennifer Lawrence, via) is currently talking with Disney about helming a movie version of the first book in the Peter Pan prequel series. The movie studio has already signed up The Prince screenwriter Jesse Wigutow to pen the script. Who would you cast as the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up?
Here’s more from The Hollywood Reporter: “The Peter Pan fantasy, a prequel of sorts, follows a young Peter who befriends Molly, a shipmate he meets on the Never Land ship headed toward King Zarboff. Molly tells Peter of a mysterious trunk filled with magical starstuff that must remain out of the hands of the pirate Black Stache (who will lose his hand and become Captain Hook). Peter and Molly lead an effort to recover the trunk, which takes them on a treacherous journey.”
In addition to this movie project, Ross is preparing to make his debut as an author. His picture book, Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind, will be released in November 2012. Artist Matthew Myers provided the illustrations.